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A Monumental Flash

It would not be hyperbole to say that The St. Louis Arch (properly known as the Gateway Arch) is one of the most easily recognized man-made monuments in the United States.

The Arch as seen from the observation platform of the Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park, across the Mississippi, in East St. Louis.

It’s a massive structure, one whose size you really can’t grasp from a distance. Completed in 1965, the Arch is the tallest man-made monument in the U.S. at 630 feet tall, and the second tallest freestanding monument in the world after the Eiffel Tower. (You can read a detailed history of the Arch, and a lot of downtown St. Louis, as well as some very detailed description of the Arch’s construction, here: http://interestingamerica.com/2011-04-09_Gateway_Arch_Architecture_by_R_Grigonis_41.html.)

The Arch from slightly closer up, taken at Kiener Plaza, a coveted photo-op location for brides, lovers, tourists – and of course ponies.

On a cold day in November (the same day that we found this awesome location), we headed over to the Arch grounds. We didn’t go for a Scavenger Hunt specifically (or I would have dressed with fewer layers to make getting the snap easier!) we actually went as bonafide tourists, showing my friend L around the city. B-u-u-u-t…well, y’all know me. It wasn’t far from my mind.

It was a cold, blustery day, the wind like a knife’s edge, and the sky such a deep, bright blue it was almost painful to look at. The Arch was beautiful against it.

I loved the naked black branches of the trees.

(Click on the tiles to see the Arch in its glory.)

As we got closer, I knew I had to try to get a Scavenger Hunt. The cold had kept away the crowds that can usually be found there on a Saturday (though not everyone. I was surprised at how many people there were, wandering around.) Unfortunately, as we discovered, the Arch grounds and museum are under renovation.

Ugly orange barriers surrounded the legs of the Arch and barricaded the museum entrance.

A flash next to it, somewhat hidden from passersby, wasn’t going to happen, and there were too many people to manage it in the plaza or on the stairs. Then I saw a little hill off to the side. If I could stand at the crest of the hill, with my back to the Arch (and prying eyes)…it might just be possible for a quick flash!

It turned out that there were people on the downside of the hill that could easily look up and see me, so I had to be discreet, and I had to be fast. And it turned out that my sweatshirt and bra were quite a hindrance to both speed and getting a good flash. But…I finally manged it, even if it wasn’t quite as “monumental” a flash as I had hoped for!

Wow, this looks like a silver rainbow. What a beautiful piece of art and well done for braving the people but extra well done for braving the cold as I know you and I share similar thoughts on that matter